St. Polycarp

Born: c.69

Died: c.155

Canonized: pre-Congregation

Feast Day: February 23

Patron Saint of: earaches

Saint Polycarp was a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist and was Bishop of
Smyrna in the Second Century. Polycarp stood firm in his resolution not to
submit to the will of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius by not renouncing his faith As
a result, Polycarp was persecuted by the Emperor and sentenced to death by being
thrown into a fire. Witnesses to this execution say that the flames had no
effect on Polycarp, so the soldiers resorted to carrying out the execution by
stabbing him with a dagger.